Sex hiatus can be a confusing experience, no matter the reasons and circumstances. Some people may choose not to have sex for a longer period of time; others are forced into the situation by factors outside of their control.
Right now, due to the global pandemic, we have all found ourselves in an unprecedented position that affects all aspects of our lives, including sex. For example, because of social distancing restrictions, dating or casual sex have become much more difficult than before.
According to sex industry experts from Silicon Wives, the situation has led to a surge in sex toy sales such as butt plugs or any automatic male masturbator, as people are looking for substitutes. However, there are also those who decided to wait.
But regardless of the motivation, most of us wonder if there are any side effects to celibacy, and popular media are not helpful in that matter. That’s why we decided to cover this topic. In the article below, you will find information about the effects of not having sex – if there are any – and some tips on how to have sex after a long time.
Does Celibacy Influence Our Physical Health?
Celibacy (or abstinence) refers to a complete lack of sex in someone’s life, whether it’s a lifetime or a temporary situation. If you’re having a break right now, you are not very likely to see many changes in your body or physical health.
There are some benefits related to being sexually active, but they can be quite easily achieved with other methods. According to research, having regular sex may boost your immunity, reduce stress, blood pressure, and the risk of cardiovascular events.
However, the same results can be accomplished with the right lifestyle, healthy diet and even masturbation. For example, when it comes to men, while frequent ejaculations indeed support prostate health, it doesn’t really matter if it’s with a partner or on their own. Similarly, women support their bladder function with regular sexual activity, but it can be either through sex or masturbation.
Does Celibacy Influence Our Mental Health?
In the case of mental health, things get a bit more complicated, as it all depends on a person.
There are those who can make it through life barely getting any sex at all – their libido is low, and they feel perfectly fine deriving pleasure from other activities. Therefore, the lack of sex won’t affect them significantly.
On the other hand, there are people for whom sex is the source of many problems, like various anxieties and insecurities. In these cases, celibacy will have a positive effect on their mental health.
For other people, sex is strongly related to deeper emotions, so they may not crave sex if they aren’t romantically involved with anyone.
But if someone has a high libido, getting no sex may lead to some more and less serious consequences. It first starts with slight anxiety and irritation. However, prolonged abstinence can lead to something called touch starvation. If you crave physical intimacy and you can’t get it, you may begin to feel depressed and incredibly lonely.
How to Have Sex After a Long Period of Abstinence?
Sex really is like riding a bike. You won’t forget how to do it, but if you haven’t had sexual interactions in a long time, you might feel a bit insecure.
The most important thing is to listen to your body and what you think, plus, to communicate openly. When it comes to sexual encounters, you should never do anything you don’t want to, but you could be especially sensitive after a long break.
Remind yourself what you like and what your body likes. It could be a good idea to experiment with yourself during a hiatus. Masturbation is an excellent way of self-exploration, so while you are in-between sexual partners, take this time to get to know yourself.
There are some cases, though, when your body may need some help. For example, especially in women during menopause, the vagina can get a little dry and narrower due to abstinence, but it’s reversible. You may use a vibrator that is inserted into the vagina; it will support the blood supply and help you maintain the proper tissue health. There are also vaginal dilators for regaining elasticity and vaginal moisturizer if your vagina is too dry.
Final Thoughts
Sex is a very individual matter. While abstinence won’t have any significant influence on your physical health, it may affect your mental health. You should never rush into things. If you have a high libido and have had a long break from sex, you could feel like you can’t stand it any longer.
However, you ought to always make sure that you’re 100% ready. While you may crave sexual intimacy at the moment, it is best to be sure that you are with the right partner, even if it didn’t really matter to you in the past. Try to think about what you want – casual sex, deeper connection, another kind of intimacy. Use your experience but never assume that nothing has changed.